The Atlantic Yards redevelopment
project has been the subject of a lot of debate, but it is now finally
the subject of some construction.The first stages of construction began Tuesday.
The first stage of the Forest City Ratner project includes
decontaminating a bus depot, which will be demolished and then replaced
by a temporary Long Island Rail Road yard. A giant platform will then
be built on top of it, which will support much of the new development."[We need to] get the site graded to begin some of the
infrastructure work on a temporary yards, to start demolishing
structures that’s on our property, and to also to begin to move
utilities," said James Stuckey, the president of the project.Thirteen people who live or work within the project site have filed
a lawsuit in federal court in an attempt to prevent their properties
from being taken through eminent domain, but the lawsuit that has yet
to be heard.Those who have fought the planned Nets arena construction project were surprised to see work has begun at the site.
"What today is doing is making it clear to us that Forrest City
Ratner wants to use scare tactics against the people who live here and
send a signal to their investors that they are moving forward," said
Daniel Goldstein, a community activist."They have a license agreement to start some preparatory work, but
their agreement to own the rail yards is contingent on whether or not
they win the suit we brought against them," continued Goldstein. "And
we expect to win it, and if we win it, they cannot build the arena, the
super blocks, and they can’t build the towers.”Construction of the new arena for the NBA’s Nets is scheduled to begin in the fall.
"[Forest City Ratner] cannot just come in and kick people and
businesses out of a well established neighborhood,” said another
community activist, Patti Hagan. “I mean right across the street here
is on the National Register of Historic Places. This is an historic
neighborhood."But Mayor Michael Bloomberg says there’s no reason to wait to build the $4 billion arena.
"[I think it’s] good that construction is starting,” said
Bloomberg. “Some people are in favor, others aren’t. Brooklyn needs
housing, and jobs, and stores."Stuckey would not comment on the lawsuits, but pointed out that
Forest City Ratner is abiding by the agreement it made to the community
to use a number of women or minority-owned contracting firms.Stuckey also said 50 percent of the union workers come from the surrounding neighborhood.
The city and state have both given the project the go-ahead.